The sky is always the sky. Even though clouds and lightning come, the sky is not disturbed. http://amzn.to/2iZOLK7
Book: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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The sky is always the sky
Shunryu Suzuki uses one of the most beautiful images in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. The sky is always the sky. Even though clouds and lightning come, the sky is not disturbed. Weather passes through, sometimes violently, yet the sky itself remains open and unchanged.
The image describes awareness. Thoughts and emotions are like weather. Some days are sunny, others stormy. However, the awareness in which they appear remains steady. Recognising this can bring great comfort during difficult times.
Remembering what does not change
In practice, this means relating to emotions differently. Instead of saying I am angry, we might say anger is passing through. Therefore, the emotion becomes an event rather than an identity. Psychologists call this decentering, and research links it with lower anxiety.
Meditation trains this perspective. Watching thoughts come and go reveals the spacious background behind them. Moreover, with practice, people report feeling less overwhelmed by intense feelings.
This image also helps during life crises. Loss, conflict and illness can feel like endless storms. Consequently, remembering that storms pass offers hope, even when the clouds seem thick.
Compassion grows from this view as well. Other people also have weather passing through them, and their storms do not define them.
In short, weather changes, but the sky stays. Therefore, next time a strong emotion arrives, look up at the real sky for a moment. For instance, notice its openness and calm. As a result, you may find a little more space inside too.
Moreover, the image is easy to remember during difficult days. A quick glance upwards can become a personal reminder that inner weather also changes, and that calm awareness is always available underneath.
